new camera

The old camera was dying a slow death, so we upgraded to a new one.  Nothing fancy, but still better than what we had (and about half the price and half the size of the old one).  I am now shooting with a wee Canon PowerShot Elph 100HS.  I haven't dropped it...yet.

I decided to practice with it on some of my most treasured things--pretty beaded bags and jewelry passed down to me from my grandma.

I wore this locket as a child--and still do!

The macro on this definitely works.  I didn't even see the "ALLCO" mark (indicating this was made by A.L. Lindroth) on the inside of the locket until I saw this photo.

I love this pin, and will have to remember to wear it on St. Patrick's Day.  I remember being told as a child that I should wear red on St. Patrick's Day because I was German.  I have no idea why, though!

I also took it out with me on our Valentine date this weekend, testing the low light setting (not a setting I'll likely use often).  Andy I played some pinball at The Pyramid Scheme--that's the floor, there.

 ...and we had cocktails at the Viceroy (you can see Steven, bartender extraordinaire, in the background).  Andy looks so cute and mod in his necktie!

Artsy bar shot.

xo

K

simonetta

I had not heard of Simonetta--Duchess Simonetta Colonna di Cesaró--when I came across this article about her in a 1956 issue of Women's Home Companion.  She wasn't as famous as contemporaries like Balenciaga or Pucci, but she was well known in the 1950s and 1960s as an innovative designer of cocktail dresses, ballgowns, daywear, sportswear, and coats with youthful appeal.  

The article shows Simonetta in her Roman atelier and villa, where she lived with then-husband, designer Alberto Fabiani.  Her story is a fascinating one.  An Italian aristocrat who was jailed for antifacist activities by the Mussolini government,  Simonetta started her couture business after the war using scraps of whatever material could be found--aprons, dishcloths, butler's uniforms.  She spent many years as a successful couturier, dressing women like Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.  And then, in the early 1970s, she sold her business and moved to India, where she devoted herself to spirituality and working with lepers. 

The magazine showcases some lovely party dresses, coats, and Simonetta's "travel wardrobe for America."  There is also advice from Simonetta on how a woman should dress and present herself.

  

"The best way to conceal defects is to emphasize them.  If you have a big bust, drape it instead of trying to flatten it down, then no one knows which is you and which is dress.  If you have big hips, wear a wide skirt.  If you have a big mouth paint it to look bigger and it will be an arresting feature."

Simonetta says women should not be afraid of a dark wardrobe of gray and black that can be livened up with a jacket or accessories.  She says the scarlet coat above is "neutral because I can wear it over everything I have."

"You cannot be completely comfortable when you are chic--you need a good corset, well-fitting shoes with high heels, a neat hairdo."

xo

K

shop preview

A peek at what's coming soon to the Etsy shop.  Plaid, jersey, wool, floral and zigzag prints, a flocked dress!, nautical stripes, and ooh la la, satin jacquard!

1940s charcoal wool dress with striped buttons and trim, by Junior Age.

1950s red plaid wool jacket.

1960s brown linen dress with pintuck bodice and Peter Pan collar, by The Art Shirt.

Sage green shetland wool cardigan.

1950s sparkle brocade wiggle cocktail dress with bow.

1950s brown mustard plaid wool skirt, by Barbara Field.

1960s gray jersey dress with contrast stitching and belt, by Jean Lang.

1950s red rose print blouse, by Shapely Classic.

1950s navy voile dress with flocked scrollwork trim and rhinestone buttons, by Kay Windsor.

1960s nautical striped bateau  neck sweater.

1960s zigzag print mod dress, by Leslie Fay.

1940s men's wine satin jacquard dressing gown.

xo

K

january beauty

January was chock full of beautiful inspiration via the internets.  I think this is partly due to my joining Pinterest, which has been a lot of addictive fun.  You can follow my pins here, and my Tumblr blog here.

1. 1930s zig zag dress / wondertrading

2. by Czech painter Jakub Schikaneder / via

3. 1967 tree coat by Bill Blass for Maurice Renter / Metropolitan Museum of Art

4. vintage schoolchildren from National Geographic / The Cat's Pajamas

5. Dart Swinger / Jesse Chehak's cool Autotypes portfolio

1. the tartan map / calsidyrose

2. late 1800s-early 1900s Washington Square Park arch postcard / NYPL

3. Anjelica Huston modeling / Quite Continental

4. London street style / Street Style Aesthetic

5. waterfowl in Iowa / Bookworks Chicago

xo

K

black eyelet

I've had a windfall of black eyelet dresses lately--two that fit me!  (That's a windfall in my life.)  This one is my favorite--1950s, full skirt, rhinestone buttons.  It's my favorite dress right now.  I was going to wait until warmer weather to wear it, but...that seemed silly.  So I put on this cute cardigan.  It was so freakishly warm and sunny on Saturday afternoon, I didn't need a coat.

The sun was disturbingly bright.  Colorado, high altitude-style bright.  I know no one will agree with me, but give me an overcast day.  Always.  Normally, Michigan is very good for overcast days.  Okay, I'll stop annoying everyone by complaining about the cheerful, sunny weather now.

We were downtown to see the Rauschenberg exhibit at the GRAM, but we also played some pinball at the Pyramid Scheme, where I had to take some photos of Jeff VandenBerg's great murals.

xo

K

brighton rock

I watched Brighton Rock the other night.  This is the 2010 film adaptation of the Graham Greene novel.  I was excited to see it partly because of the cast--Helen Mirren, John Hurt, and Sam Riley, who was fantastic in Control.  I was also interested because of the setting, which for this film is Brighton in the early 1960s, with the mod and rocker riots as a backdrop.  Well, the movie is okay, not great...but the fashions and setting did not disappoint.  (I apologize--my screencaps are not the best.  But you can click them to see them a bit bigger.)

Black dress with white ruffles on left?  Be mine!

As much as I loved the mod fashions, Helen Mirren has the best wardrobe in the film.  Her character dresses in a style that is alternately demure and bombshell.  She looks fantastic in all of it.

I also became slightly obsessed with this pretty pale yellow confection of a dress.

Gorgeous cinematography.  I could totally see myself visiting English beach towns in the autumn and fall. 

Best shot of the film.


xo

K